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Nick Wagoner, ESPN Staff Writer
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw was unable to finish all four quarters on Sunday afternoon in his second game back from a torn left Achilles.
More than a week after De’Vondre Campbell declined to go into the game against the Los Angeles Rams for an injured Greenlaw and was subsequently suspended for the final three games for conduct detrimental to the team, Greenlaw sustained another injury in the opening quarter of Sunday’s 29-17 loss at the Miami Dolphins.
This time was his right calf.
During the week, Greenlaw had been listed as questionable on the injury report, with the knee and Achilles soreness that had limited him to 30 snaps against the Rams.
Against the Dolphins, Greenlaw played just four snaps on Miami’s first possession before heading off. He was visibly frustrated on the sideline and spent the next few minutes walking and stretching but didn’t re-enter and was ruled out just after halftime.
It’s the latest injury setback in an extensive list for Greenlaw, who is set to be an unrestricted free agent after the season. On Wednesday, Greenlaw told ESPN that he can’t miss much more time because of what it might mean for his future in the league.
“I think just at this particular time and in my career, you can’t afford to get hurt too much more,” Greenlaw said. “I don’t want to be in this position again next year where I got to watch the whole team do it. I try my best to be as smart as I can on it.”
Since entering the league as a fifth-round pick in 2019, Greenlaw has missed 34 of a possible 98 regular season games because of quad, groin, calf and hamstring issues, in addition to the Achilles.
Greenlaw had one tackle against the Dolphins before his exit. Second-year linebacker Dee Winters replaced Greenlaw at weak-side linebacker with Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles entering as the strong-side linebacker in base defensive packages.